Go Back

Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

This festive Christmas salad features a vibrant mix of crisp greens, fruit, nuts, and a sweet-tangy honey mustard dressing. It's the perfect balance to heavy holiday meals.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 180

Ingredients
  

Salad Base
  • 6 cups Baby spinach and arugula mix Can also use spring mix
  • 2 medium Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples Thinly sliced for crisp sweetness
  • 1 cup Pomegranate arils Juicy pops of tart-sweet flavor
  • 1 medium Pear Optional, thinly sliced for added sweetness
  • 1/2 cup Toasted pecans or walnuts For warmth and crunch
  • 1/2 cup Crumbled feta or goat cheese For creamy richness
  • 1/4 small Red onion Thinly sliced, soak in cold water for milder flavor
  • 1/2 cup Dried cranberries For chewy sweetness
Honey Mustard Dressing
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Honey
  • 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon Fine salt
  • to taste Black pepper A few grinds

Method
 

Make the Dressing
  1. In a jar, combine Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, fine salt, and black pepper. Shake until glossy and unified. Taste and adjust as needed.
Prep the Nuts
  1. Toast pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring until fragrant. Let them cool.
Prep the Produce
  1. Wash and dry the greens. Thinly slice the apples and pear. Remove pomegranate arils. Slice the onion paper-thin.
  2. Soak the onion in ice water for 5 minutes and pat dry if you want a milder taste.
Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large serving bowl, add the greens. Scatter the apples, pear, pomegranate arils, onion, dried cranberries, and cheese over the top.
  2. Sprinkle with toasted nuts.
Dress and Toss
  1. Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Add more dressing as needed to achieve a light coating.
  2. Taste and add a pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon if needed.

Notes

You can mix the dressing up to 3 days ahead and store components separately for easy assembly. The salad pairs well with roasts and festive dishes.